GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Only the 110-pitch limit could stop Tyler Consolidated junior pitcher Ty Walton Thursday night in the Little Kanawha Conference semifinals. Walton struck out 11 batters over 6 2/3 innings as the Silver Knights defeated Braxton County, 4-0.
Walton walked four batters and allowed just four hits. He improved to 7-2 on the season.
“Ty was able to keep the Braxton hitters off balance,” said Tyler Consolidated head coach Rob Jones. “He worked in the zone early in the count and I think that was real big for him tonight. He hit 200 K’s tonight for his career. This is something we have come to expect from Ty Walton.”
Tyler scored a pair of runs in the first inning with run-scoring singles from Zade Billings and Charles Brown. Carson Gorby’s sacrifice fly in the second inning extended the lead to 3-0. Billings added another RBI single in the fifth to cap the scoring.
“We like to bunt the ball and run. Tonight, we had some clutch hits when we needed them. Zade Billings had a couple RBI’s for us. He plays behind the plate and what a tough-nosed kid he is.”
Jayden Helmick, Billings and Brown each had two base hits.
The No. 5 Silver Knights (19-7) will face No. 1 Williamstown (21-2) Friday at 5 p.m. in the conference championship game.
“At the beginning of the year we talk about all our goals. This is certainly one of them, to give ourselves a chance down here. If we play a clean game [Friday] like we did today, we feel like we have a shot against Williamstown. You tip your cap to them. They are on a different level right now than a lot of teams in the state.”
Tyler Baldwin pitched a complete game for No. 9 Braxton County (15-7). He struck out six batters.